I Love NY--and Publishing
Back from NYC. I bought my kids the obligatory I Love NY souvenirs. I ate sushi. I drank martinis. I ate breakfast with my agent and a wonderful editor at the Waldorf (LOT of power suits!). I did all that NYC stuff--including standing in the freezing cold, trying to get a cab, and one time, BEGGING a cabbie to take me from downtown back to midtown at rush hour (he took the shortcut past the Helmsley up Park, and it wasn't bad). Yup, I felt like I was home.
And I also had back-to-back meetings with editors over three days.
One thing that is wonderful about that, is you often can't sense what an editor really wants or his or her passion for a project until you meet in person. I am lucky in that I think I am easy to talk to, and I genuinely LIKE getting to know new and interesting people. And that lends itself to exciting meetings where I can really see what an editor wants--and also sense their own creativity. What they are looking for--but also their ideas about publishing, what's hot, what's not, what's cyclical, what THEY like to read. What they love about the biz.
Which reminded me how much I love the biz. It's easy to forget with talk of numbers and submissions, rejections or icky covers, or whatever . . . that most of the time, it's really a business about creating the best book possible. Being excited about that book, about the craft. It's like-minded people jazzed about possibilities. About the written word.
So it reminded me why I love doing what I do. Not that I often need reminding. Every time I get to sit down and create, I am usually pumped up--but like everyone, I get in slumps or feel tired. That two-year-old of mine likes to suck the life out of me like some tiny vampire. So trips home revitalize me.
So what reminds you that you love this biz?
And I also had back-to-back meetings with editors over three days.
One thing that is wonderful about that, is you often can't sense what an editor really wants or his or her passion for a project until you meet in person. I am lucky in that I think I am easy to talk to, and I genuinely LIKE getting to know new and interesting people. And that lends itself to exciting meetings where I can really see what an editor wants--and also sense their own creativity. What they are looking for--but also their ideas about publishing, what's hot, what's not, what's cyclical, what THEY like to read. What they love about the biz.
Which reminded me how much I love the biz. It's easy to forget with talk of numbers and submissions, rejections or icky covers, or whatever . . . that most of the time, it's really a business about creating the best book possible. Being excited about that book, about the craft. It's like-minded people jazzed about possibilities. About the written word.
So it reminded me why I love doing what I do. Not that I often need reminding. Every time I get to sit down and create, I am usually pumped up--but like everyone, I get in slumps or feel tired. That two-year-old of mine likes to suck the life out of me like some tiny vampire. So trips home revitalize me.
So what reminds you that you love this biz?
posted by Erica Orloff at 5:57 AM
5 Comments:
I love the generosity and kindness I've experienced from folks in the publishing industry. Some only online, others in person. It's a special community, and I'm proud to be part of it.
When I get into the zone when writing. The writer-type folks I meet, on-line and off--that's the absolute best.
E -- for some reason, when I read your blog entry today, I *heard* your voice. It's as if you were reading me your blog entry. I think this happened because you talked about NYC. The love you feel for this city just exploded over cyberspace (at least to me), so much so that I actually heard you through your blog entry.
I heart NY too. I'll be there in May.
Jude, KathyL
Writer folks, publishing folks, can be very generous of spirit.
E
Hi Karm:
I do love it. There is a unique vibe about my hometown that I adore.
E
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